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Merv Griffin Show

The Merv Griffin Show
Genre Talk show
Written by Jerry Bresler
Ernest Chambers
Lyn Duddy
Directed by Dick Carson
Presented by Merv Griffin
Starring Mort Lindsey (bandleader)
Narrated by Arthur Treacher
Merv Griffin
Country of origin United States
Original language(s) English
No. of episodes 4855
Production
Executive producer(s) Merv Griffin
Bob Murphy
Producer(s) Ernest Chambers
David S. Williger
John Scura
Running time 45–48 minutes
Production company(s)
Distributor
Release
Original network
  • NBC (1962–1963)
  • Syndication (1965–1969, 1972–1986)
  • CBS (1969–1972)
  • ABC
Picture format
Audio format Monaural
Original release October 1, 1962 (1962-10-01) – June 6, 1986 (1986-06-06)
Website

The Merv Griffin Show is an American television talk show, starring Merv Griffin. The series ran from October 1, 1962 to March 29, 1963 on NBC, May 1965 to August 15, 1969 in first-run syndication, from August 18, 1969 to February 11, 1972 at 11:30 PM ET weeknights on CBS and again in first-run syndication from February 14, 1972 to September 5, 1986.

After a short run on NBC from October 1962 to March 1963, Merv Griffin launched a syndicated version of his talk show produced by Westinghouse (Group W) Broadcasting, which made its debut in May 1965. Intended as a nighttime companion to The Mike Douglas Show, this version of the Griffin program aired in multiple time slots throughout North America (many stations ran it in the daytime, and other non-NBC affiliates broadcast it opposite The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson). Stations had the option of carrying either a 60-minute or a 90-minute version. Griffin's announcer-sidekick was the veteran British character actor Arthur Treacher, who had been his mentor. Treacher would introduce Griffin with the phrase: "...and now, here's the dear boy himself, Meeeer-vin!" after reading off the list of guests for that evening's show.

Seeing his strong ratings, CBS offered him a network series opposite the powerhouse Tonight Show, and his program moved there in the fall of 1969, with his debut guest lineup consisting of Hedy Lamarr, Ted Sorensen, Leslie Uggams, Moms Mabley, and Woody Allen. Although the series did well enough to quickly force the cancellation of another Carson competitor, ABC's The Joey Bishop Show, it was unable to make much of a dent in Carson's ratings. Furthermore, the network was uncomfortable with the guests Griffin wanted, who often spoke out against the Vietnam War and on other taboo topics. When political activist Abbie Hoffman was Griffin's guest in April 1970, CBS blurred the video of Hoffman so viewers at home would not see his trademark American flag pattern shirt, even though other guests had worn the same shirt in the past, uncensored, and Pat Boone appeared in an automobile commercial on that very broadcast wearing a similar flag-motif shirt.


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Wikipedia

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